Revelations from Fan Festival 2017 Frankfurt

[Belhi]

I wasn't talking about the WoL toppling an Empire. Quite the opposite. I was talking about the WoL trying to help save the core of the empire from individuals inside it trying to seize power for themselves, even at the risk of the empires demise. I am not saying they should neuter the empire either. Moderation just means not being so set on the whole genocide, conquer everything, brutal oppression thing.

The issue I have is that for an outside force to be a serious threat to the Empire it must be huge and powerful. In Stormblood we will be fighting the Empire and costing them a couple of provinces probably but we aren't going to come anywhere close to actually toppling the Empire. They are the powerhouse of the world. As it is they would only have one expansion cycle to introduce this threat and there isn't so much as a hint of such a power that could rise up to present a real threat to the empire so far except if maybe the WoL themselves rallied the rest of the world against them.

I think fighting in a expansion of political intrigue could be a really interesting way to look into the heart of the Garlean culture, why it is the way it is and what is both the good and the bad of the Garleans. I think that would be far more interesting than Varis sending us off to fight in a war against some threat that has appeared out of no where. Again, exactly why would he need our help? Unless he is fighting an army of Primals, the WoL is really only one particularly kick ass soldier. He has Legions.

[Dualblade]

As it currently stands the Garleans are like the Covenant from Halo: While the UMSC may have been able to win many battles and atleast one of their soldiers could take on any other Covenant 1v1 (and usually more then that), ultimately they would have won...until they screwed over the Elites, resulting in them allying with the UMSC and ultimately bringing an end to the Covenant.

Essentially, it took the enemy going into a Civil War for the USMC to actually stand a chance, and the Eorzeans are currently in a similar position. The WoL is an equal or more powerful to any Garlean, with others approaching their power on the Eorzean side too. We may liberate Ala Mhigo, we may take back Doma...but unless SOMETHING happens to break apart the Garleans we don't stand an actual chance in taking them on in Garlemald proper. Either they end up breaking out into some sorta Civil War with us supporting one side (possibly even Varis's side), or some new power comes from out of nowhere that Eorzea allying with them is seen as the best course of action (most likely something from the New World invading...though I believe they are closer to Eorzea then Garlemald.)

[Ceasaria]

The issue I have is that for an outside force to be a serious threat to the Empire it must be huge and powerful.

It will come from one of the two other landmasses: Meracydia or the New World.
Concerning the Mamool Ja, they control like half of the New World, I guess, or maybe all.
They could try to invade us.

[Levi_Tolar_Fan]

Concerning the shipwrecks we saw in preview images as part of a new dungeon. I believe this implies the possibility of fighting more Sirens in the future as it was in a series of shipwrecks that Siren was first found and fought in FFV. Also the Sirens in FFXIV are an entire species and were only said to be eradicated from the seas around Eorzea and not away from it.

[Ghastly]

It will come from one of the two other great continent : Meracydia or the New World.
Concerning the Mamool Ja, they control like half of the New World, I guess, or maybe all.
They could try to invade us.

Didn't know the Mamool ja were from the new world...that's really interesting! That explains why they only made it to Vylbrand.

Concerning the shipwrecks we saw in preview images as part of a new dungeon. I believe this implies the possibility of fighting more Sirens in the future as it was in a series of shipwrecks that Siren was first found and fought in FFV. Also the Sirens in FFXIV are an entire species and were only said to be eradicated from the seas around Eorzea and not away from it.

Maybe we get siren primal in 5.0 when we go to Thavnair in 5.0. But you're right, that shipwreck dungeon will probably be like Xelphatol dungeon where it's all about a beastribe.

[Belhi]

It will come from one of the two other great continent : Meracydia or the New World.
Concerning the Mamool Ja, they control like half of the New World, I guess, or maybe all.
They could try to invade us.

Again, why would the Garleans need the WoL's help against an Mamool Ja invasion and more to the point why would we offer it to our former enemies. Its not like we are likely to end Stormblood as best friends with the Garleans and we would be a poor figurehead to have at the front of their armies. We would be as feared and demonised in Garlean lands as we are revered in Eorzea.

I just don't see the role the WoL would be supposed to play. Fundamentally the WoL is a specialist. They kill primals. They take on powerful magic threats. They find stuff which is missing. They are basically the super adventurer. They even work well as a figurehead for friendly armies. Their power is wasted on traditional warfare in a battlefield where magitech and Airship bombardments are a thing.

What would be the actual story and why would the WoL be called on to help? If Garlemald's leadership remains intact we really aren't going to have done a dramatic amount of damage to the empire. Even if we wipe out the 12th legion in its entirety, there are 11 other Garlean Legions that should be quite functional and still a massive population to pull new conscripts from.

[Ceasaria]

Again, why would the Garleans need the WoL's help against an Mamool Ja invasion and more to the point why would we offer it to our former enemies. Its not like we are likely to end Stormblood as best friends with the Garleans and we would be a poor figurehead to have at the front of their armies...

At some point, Garleans will control half of our continent, while the other part will be under the Eorzea alliance.
If a powerful army (Mamool Ja for example) appear, the whole continent will be in danger.
Garlean empire and Eorzea alliance will stop to fight each other and will work together to fight off the new threat.
And furthermore, I think Garleans would prefer to collaborate with humans than see their homeland fall into the hands of some beasts.
Ultimately, WoL would not longer be a hero for the Eorzea alliance but will become the protector of the Three Great Continents.

[Theodric]

Zodiark's revival or rapidly approaching revival would be a pretty good way to force Eorzea and Garlemald to work together. Given that Elidibus gave Nidhogg's Eyes to Ilberd it's pretty clear that the Ascians want a war between Garlemald and Eorzea/Eorzea's allies. Ultimately it's the Ascians who are the 'big bads' - and I have little doubt that they will continue to approach key individuals on all sides and given them dangerous powers to push things towards chaos. Didn't Igerythom pretty much outright state that war benefits Zodiark back in the Aetherochemical Research Facility?

[Cilia]

What Igeyorhm states is that we desire a foe to despise, and from that arises ceaseless conflict from which Zodiark will be reborn. That comment is in reference to primals, though extending it to general war might not be too much of a stretch. The Ascians do want war between... well, whoever they can stir up war between, but war itself is just a means to an end.

Either way, allying with Garlemald to stop the dark god's resurrection seems... unlikely, given the Garleans don't believe in gods.

[Enkidoh]

Didn't Igerythom pretty much outright state that war benefits Zodiark back in the Aetherochemical Research Facility?

The Ascians stated that bloodshed and chaos on Hydaelyn is the key to Zodiark's rebirth far earlier than that - Lahabrea said as much during his big 'the-reason-you-suck'-speech at the bottom of the Praetorium immediately after Ultima Weapon is destroyed (although given that most players skipped that cutscene it's not surprising many wouldn't remember it):

Lahabrea: "The growing imbalance afflicting the planet must be redressed."
Lahabrea: "If it is permitted to worsen, the very laws of existence - both aetheric and physical - will be warped, beyond all recognition."
Lahabrea: "Know you the root of this corruption?" Hydaelyn!!"
Lahabrea: "Like a parasite she must be burned out, if the planet is to recover."
Lahabrea: "And naught but the return of the One True God will ensure her complete excision."
Lahabrea: "Yet to pave the way for the Master's return, a chaotic confluence of untold proportions must needs be brought about. And that will necessitate the presence of the Primals."
Lahabrea: "Needless to say, both you and your Scion accomplices cannot be suffered to interfere in this endeavour! You will not leave this place alive!"
Lahabrea: "It is past time your flame was extinguished... 'Bringer of Light'!"